Cytochrome P450s and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention features isolated cytochrome P450 polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules, as well as expression vectors and transgenic plants containing these molecules. In addition, the invention features uses of such molecules in methods of increasing the level of resistance against a disease caused by a plant pathogen in a transgenic plant, in methods for producing altered compounds, for example, hydroxylated compounds, and in methods of producing isoprenoid compounds.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. Nos. 60/274,421 and 60/275,597, filed on Mar. 9, 2001 and Mar. 13, 2001, respectively, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to cytochrome P450s and uses thereof.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cytochrome P450s encompass a superfamily of oxidases responsible for the oxidation of numerous endobiotics and thousands of xenobiotics. In addition, in plants, cytochrome P450s play important roles in wound healing, pest resistance, signaling, and anti-microbial and anti-fungal activity.

Capsidiol is a bicyclic, dihydroxylated sesquiterpene produced by many Solanaceous species in response to a variety of environmental stimuli, including exposure to UV (Back et al., Plant Cell. Physiol. 389:899-904, 1998) and infection by microorganisms (Molot et al., Physiol. Plant Pathol. 379-389, 1981; Stolle et al., Phytopathology 78:1193-1197, 1988; Keller et al., Planta. 205:467-476, 1998). It is the primary antibiotic or phytoalexin produced in tobacco in response to fungal elicitation, and it is derived from the isoprenoid pathway via its hydrocarbon precursor, 5-epi-aristolochene (FIG. 1). Several of the biosynthetic enzymes leading up to 5-epi-aristolochene formation have been studied (Chappell, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 46:521-547, 1995), especially 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (EAS) (Vögeli and Chappell, Plant Physiol. 88:1291-1296, 1988; Back and Chappell, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 93:6841-6845, 1996; Mathis et al., Biochemistry 36:8340-8348, 1997; Starks et al., Science 277:1815-1820, 1997). EAS commits carbon to sesquiterpene metabolism by catalyzing the cyclization of farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to 5-epi-aristolochene. However, until the present invention, the enzyme(s) responsible for the conversion of 5-epi-aristolochene to capsidiol has yet to be fully identified and characterized.

Biochemical evidence from previous studies in tobacco (Whitehead et al., Phytochemistry 28:775-779, 1989) and green pepper (Hoshino et al., Phytochemistry 38:609-613, 1995) have suggested that the oxidation of 5-epi-aristolochene to capsidiol occurs in a two step, process with one of the hydroxylation steps being constitutive and the other being mediated by an elicitor-inducible cytochrome P450 (FIG. 1). Because 1-deoxycapsidiol had been isolated from natural sources (Watson et al., Biochem. Soc. Trans. 11:589, 1983), Whitehead et al. (Phytochemistry 28:775-779, 1989), surmised that perhaps the biosynthesis of this intermediate was due to pathogen induction of a corresponding hydroxylase. They therefore prepared synthetic 1-deoxycapsidiol and reported a modest conversion of this compound to capsidiol when fed to control or unelicited tobacco cell cultures. This was further supported by their observation that radiolabeled 5-epi-aristolochene was only converted to capsidiol when fed to elicitor-induced cell cultures but not control cultures. Whitehead et al. (Phytochemistry 28:775-779, 1989) therefore concluded that the 3-hydroxylase, responsible for hydroxylation of 5-epi-aristolochene at C3 to generate 1-deoxycapsidiol, was pathogen/elicitor inducible, while the 1-hydroxylase, responsible for hydroxylating 1-deoxycapsidiol at the C1 to generate capsidiol, was constitutive. Hoshino et al. (Phytochemistry 38:609-613, 1995) added to the observations of Whitehead et al. (Phytochemistry 28:775-779, 1989) by directly measuring 3-hydroxylase-activity in microsomal preparations of arachidonic acid-elicited Capsicum annuum fruits and seedlings. These assays consisted of incubating 5-epi-aristolochene with microsome preparations and subsequently determining the amount of 1-deoxycapsidiol generated by a combination of thin-layer chromatography (TLC) separations and gas chromatography (GC). Their evidence demonstrated that the conversion of 5-epi-aristolochene to 1-deoxycapsidiol was dependent on both NADPH and O₂, and that 1-deoxycapsidiol accumulation in vitro was arrested by the P450 antagonists carbon monoxide (Omura and Sato, J. Biol. Chem. 239:2370-2378, 1964), ancymidol (Coolbaugh et al., Plant Physiol. 62:571-576, 1978), and ketoconazole (Rademacher, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 51:501-531, 2000).

Recent results suggest that the hydroxylation of 5-epi-aristolochene is an important regulated step in capsidiol biosynthesis. In studies to evaluate the effectiveness of methyl-jasmonate as an inducer of capsidiol biosynthesis in tobacco cell cultures, Mandujano-Chávez et al. (Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 381:285-294, 2000), reported that the modest accumulation of this phytoalexin was accompanied by a strong induction of EAS. This result implied that steps before or after the sesquiterpene cyclase reaction were limiting. Using an in vivo assay measuring the conversion rate of radiolabeled 5-epi-aristolochene to capsidiol, a very limited induction of the hydroxylase activities was observed in cells treated with methyl jasmonate relative to that in fungal elicitor-treated cells. This result pointed to the hydroxylase reactions as a potentially limiting step in capsidiol biosynthesis.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the invention features several isolated cytochrome P450 polypeptides (such as CYP71D20, CYP71D21, CYP73A27, CYP73A28, and CYP92A5, and P450s having substantial identity to these polypeptides), as well as isolated nucleic acid molecules that encode these P450s.

In related aspects, the invention features a vector (such as an expression vector) including an isolated nucleic acid molecule of the invention and a cell (for example, a prokaryotic cell, such as Agrobacterium or E. coli, or a eukaryotic cell, such as a mammalian, insect, yeast, or plant cell) including the isolated nucleic acid molecule or vector.

In yet another aspect, the invention features a transgenic plant or transgenic plant component including a nucleic acid molecule of the invention, wherein the nucleic acid molecule is expressed in the transgenic plant or the transgenic plant component. Preferably, the transgenic plant or transgenic plant component is an angiosperm (for example, a monocot or dicot). In preferred embodiments, the transgenic plant or transgenic plant component is a solanaceous, maize, rice, or cruciferous plant or a component thereof. The invention further includes a seed produced by the transgenic plant or transgenic plant component, or progeny thereof.

In another aspect, the invention features a method of providing an increased level of resistance against a disease caused by a plant pathogen in a transgenic plant. The method involves: (a) producing a transgenic plant cell including the nucleic acid molecule of the invention integrated into the genome of the transgenic plant cell and positioned for expression in the plant cell; and (b) growing a transgenic plant from the plant cell wherein the nucleic acid molecule is expressed in the transgenic plant and the transgenic plant is thereby provided with an increased level of resistance against a disease caused by a plant pathogen.

In another aspect, the invention features a method for producing an altered compound, the method including the steps of contacting the compound with one or more of the isolated polypeptides disclosed herein under conditions allowing for the hydroxylation, oxidation, demethylation, or methylation of the compound and recovering the altered compound.

In still another aspect, the invention features a hydroxylating agent including any of the isolated polypeptides disclosed herein.

In yet another embodiment, the invention features an isolated nucleic acid molecule that specifically hybridizes under highly stringent conditions to the complement of any one of the sequences described in SEQ ID NO:2 (CYP71D20), SEQ ID NO:4 (CYP71D21), SEQ ID NO:6 (CYP73A27), SEQ ID NO:8 (CYP73A28), or SEQ ID NO:12 (CYP92A5), wherein such a nucleic acid molecule encodes a cytochrome P450 polypeptide.

In another aspect, the invention features a host cell expressing a recombinant isoprenoid synthase and a recombinant cytochrome P450. In preferred embodiments, the host cell further expresses, independently or in combination, a recombinant acetyltransferase, methyltransferase, or fatty acyltransferase. In other preferred embodiments, the host expresses an endogenous or recombinant cytochrome reductase. Preferably, the host cell is a yeast cell, a bacterial cell, an insect cell, or a plant cell.

In a related aspect, the invention features a method for producing an isoprenoid compound, the method including the steps of: (a) culturing a cell that expresses a recombinant isoprenoid synthase and a recombinant cytochrome P450 under conditions wherein the isoprenoid synthase and the cytochrome P450 are expressed and catalyze the formation of an isoprenoid compound not normally produced by the cell; and (b) recovering the isoprenoid compound. In preferred embodiments, the host cell further expresses a recombinant acetyltransferase, a recombinant methyltransferase, or a recombinant fatty acyltransferase. In other preferred embodiments, the host cell expresses an endogenous or recombinant cytochrome reductase. Preferably, the host cell is a yeast cell, a bacterial cell, an insect cell, or a plant cell.

In yet another aspect, the invention features an isoprenoid compound produced according to the above-mentioned methods.

By “P450 polypeptide,” “cytochrome P450, ” or “P450” is meant a polypeptide that contains a heme-binding domain and shows a CO absorption spectra peak at 450 nm according to standard methods, for example, those described herein. Such P450s may also include, without limitation, hydroxylase activity, dual hydroxylase activity, demethylase activity, or oxidase activity. Such enzymatic activities are determined using methods well known in the art.

By “polypeptide” is meant any chain of amino acids, regardless of length or post-translational modification (for example, glycosylation or phosphorylation).

By “substantially identical” is meant a polypeptide or nucleic acid exhibiting at least 80 or 85%, preferably 90%, more preferably 95%, and most preferably 97%, or even 98% identity to a reference amino acid sequence (for example, the amino acid sequence shown in SEQ ID NOS:1, 3, 5, 7, and 11) or nucleic acid sequence (for example, the nucleic acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOS:2, 4, 6, 8, and 12, respectively). For polypeptides, the length of comparison sequences will generally be at least 16 amino acids, preferably at least 20 amino acids, more preferably at least 25 amino acids, and most preferably 35 amino acids. For nucleic acids, the length of comparison sequences will generally be at least 50 nucleotides, preferably at least 60 nucleotides, more preferably at least 75 nucleotides, and most preferably 110 nucleotides.

Sequence identity is typically measured using sequence analysis software (for example, Sequence Analysis Software Package of the Genetics Computer Group, University of Wisconsin Biotechnology Center, 1710 University Avenue, Madison, Wis. 53705, BLAST, or PILEUP/PRETTYBOX programs). Such software matches identical or similar sequences by assigning degrees of homology to various substitutions, deletions, and/or other modifications. Conservative substitutions typically include substitutions within the following groups: glycine alanine; valine, isoleucine, leucine; aspartic acid, glutamic acid, asparagine, glutamine; serine, threonine; lysine, arginine; and phenylalanine, tyrosine.

By an “isolated polypeptide” is meant a P450 polypeptide (for example, a CYP71D20 (SEQ ID NO: 1), CYP71D21 (SEQ ID NO:3), CYP73A27 (SEQ ID NO:5), CYP73A28 (SEQ ID NO:7), or CYP92A5 (SEQ ID NO:11) polypeptide) that has been separated from components that naturally accompany it. Typically, the polypeptide is isolated when it is at least 60%, by weight, free from the proteins and naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Preferably, the preparation is at least 75%, more preferably at least 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by weight, a P450 polypeptide. An isolated P450 polypeptide may be obtained, for example, by extraction from a natural source (for example, a plant cell); by expression of a recombinant nucleic acid encoding a P450 polypeptide; or by chemically synthesizing the protein. Purity can be measured by any appropriate method, for example, column chromatography, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, or by HPLC analysis.

By “derived from” or “obtained from” is meant isolated from or having the sequence of a naturally-occurring sequence (e.g., cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic, or combination thereof).

By “isolated nucleic acid molecule” is meant a nucleic acid molecule, e.g., a DNA molecule, that is free of the nucleic acid sequence(s) which, in the naturally-occurring genome of the organism from which the nucleic acid molecule of the invention is derived, flank the nucleic acid molecule. The term therefore includes, for example, a recombinant DNA that is incorporated into a vector; into an autonomously replicating plasmid or virus; or into the genomic DNA of a prokaryote or eukaryote; or that exists as a separate molecule (for example, a cDNA or a genomic or cDNA fragment produced by PCR or restriction endonuclease digestion) independent of other sequences. The term “isolated nucleic acid molecule” also includes a recombinant DNA which is part of a hybrid gene encoding additional polypeptide sequence.

By “specifically hybridizes” is meant that a nucleic acid sequence is capable of hybridizing to a DNA sequence at least under low stringency conditions, and preferably under high stringency conditions. For example, high stringency conditions may include hybridization at approximately 42° C. in about 50% formamide, 0.1 mg/ml sheared salmon sperm DNA, 1% SDS, 2×SSC, 10% Dextran sulfate, a first wash at approximately 65° C. in about 2×SSC, 1% SDS, followed by a second wash at approximately 65° C. in about 0.1×SSC. Alternatively high stringency conditions may include hybridization at approximately 42° C. in about 50% formamide, 0.1 mg/ml sheared salmon sperm DNA, 0.5% SDS, 5× SSPE, 1× Denhardt's, followed by two washes at room temperature in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS, and two washes at between 55-60° C. in 0.2×SSC, 0.1% SDS. Reducing the stringency of the hybridization conditions may involve lowering the wash temperature and/or washing at a higher concentration of salt. For example, low stringency conditions may include washing in 2×SSC, 0.1% SDS at 40° C.

By “transformed cell” is meant a cell into which (or into an ancestor of which) has been introduced, by means of recombinant DNA techniques, a DNA molecule encoding (as used herein) a P450 polypeptide.

By “positioned for expression” is meant that the DNA molecule is positioned adjacent to a DNA sequence which directs transcription and translation of the sequence (i.e., facilitates the production of, for example, a P450 polypeptide, a recombinant protein, or an RNA molecule).

By “reporter gene” is meant a gene whose expression may be assayed; such genes include, without limitation, beta-glucuronidase (GUS), luciferase, chloramphenicol transacetylase (CAT), green fluorescent protein (GFP), beta-galactosidase, herbicide resistant genes, and antibiotic resistance genes.

By “expression control region” is meant any minimal sequence sufficient to direct transcription. Included in the invention are promoter elements that are sufficient to render promoter-dependent gene expression controllable for cell-, tissue-, or organ-specific gene expression, or elements that are inducible by external signals or agents (for example, light-, pathogen-, wound-, stress-, or hormone-inducible elements or chemical inducers such as salicylic acid (SA) or 2,2-dichloro isonicotinic acid (INA)); such elements may be located in the 5′ or 3′ regions of the native gene or engineered into a transgene construct.

By “operably linked” is meant that a gene and a regulatory sequence(s) are connected in such a way as to permit gene expression when the appropriate molecules (for example, transcriptional activator proteins) are bound to the regulatory sequence(s).

By “plant cell” is meant any self-propagating cell bounded by a semi-permeable membrane and typically is one containing a plastid. Such a cell also requires a cell wall if further propagation is desired. Plant cell, as used herein includes, without limitation, algae, cyanobacteria, seeds, suspension cultures, embryos, meristematic regions, callus tissue, leaves, roots, shoots, gametophytes, sporophytes, pollen, and microspores.

By “plant component” is meant a part, segment, or organ obtained from an intact plant or plant cell. Exemplary plant components include, without limitation, somatic embryos, leaves, stems, roots, flowers, tendrils, fruits, scions, and rootstocks.

By “transgene” is meant any piece of DNA which is inserted by artifice into a cell and typically becomes part of the genome, for example, the nuclear or plastidic genome, of the organism which develops from that cell. Such a transgene may include a gene which is partly or entirely heterologous (i.e., foreign) to the transgenic organism, or may represent a gene homologous to an endogenous gene of the organism.

By “transgenic” is meant any cell which includes a DNA sequence which is inserted by artifice into a cell and becomes part of the genome of the organism which develops from that cell. As used herein, the transgenic organisms are generally transgenic plants and the DNA (transgene) is inserted by artifice into the nuclear or plastidic genome. A transgenic plant according to the invention may contain one or more engineered traits.

By “pathogen” is meant an organism whose infection of viable plant tissue elicits a disease response in the plant tissue. Such pathogens include, without limitation, bacteria, mycoplasmas, fungi, insects, nematodes, viruses, and viroids. Plant diseases caused by these pathogens are described in Chapters 11-16 of Agrios, Plant Pathology, 3rd ed., Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1988.

By “increased level of resistance” is meant a greater level of resistance to a disease-causing pathogen in a transgenic plant (or cell or seed thereof) of the invention than the level of resistance relative to a control plant (for example, a non-transgenic plant). In preferred embodiments, the level of resistance in a transgenic plant of the invention is at least 20% (and preferably 30% or 40%) greater than the resistance of a control plant. In other preferred embodiments, the level of resistance to a disease-causing pathogen is 50% greater, 60% greater, and more preferably even 75% or 90% greater than a control plant; with up to 100% above the level of resistance as compared to a control plant being most preferred. The level of resistance is measured using conventional methods. For example, the level of resistance to a pathogen may be determined by comparing physical features and characteristics (for example, plant height and weight, or by comparing disease symptoms, for example, delayed lesion development, reduced lesion size, leaf wilting and curling, water-soaked spots, and discoloration of cells) of transgenic plants.

By “purified antibody” is meant antibody which is at least 60%, by weight, free from proteins and naturally-occurring organic molecules with which it is naturally associated. Preferably, the preparation is at least 75%, more preferably 90%, and most preferably at least 99%, by weight, antibody, for example, an acquired resistance polypeptide-specific antibody. A purified P450 antibody may be obtained, for example, by affinity chromatography using a recombinantly-produced P450 polypeptide and standard techniques.

By “specifically binds” is meant an antibody which recognizes and binds a P450 protein but which does not substantially recognize and bind other molecules in a sample, for example, a biological sample, which naturally includes a P450 protein such as CYP71D20, CYP71D21, CYP73A27, CYP73A28, or CYP92A5.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments thereof, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a proposed alternative pathway for the biosynthesis of capsidiol in elicitor-treated Nicotiana tabacum cells. 5-epi-aristolochene is synthesized from FPP by the action of a sequiterpene cyclase, 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (EAS), and is subsequently hydroxylated at C1 and C3 to form capsidiol.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing an induction time course for sesquiterpene cyclase enzyme activity and sesquiterpene hydroxylase activity in cellulase-treated cell cultures. Sesquiterpene cyclase (5-epi-aristolochene synthase, EAS) enzyme activity was determined in extracts prepared from control (open squares) and elicitor-treated (closed squares) cells collected at the indicated time points. Sesquiterpene hydroxylase activity was determined using an indirect assay for control (open circles) and elicitor-treated (closed circles) cells. Cell cultures were incubated with [³H]-5-epi-aristolochene for 3 hours ending at the indicated time points before quantifying the incorporation of radioactivity into extracellular capsidiol, a dihydroxylated form of aristolochene (Mandujano-Chávez et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 381:285-294, 2000).

FIG. 3 is a series of graphs showing the dose dependent inhibition of 5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase activity by ancymidol and ketoconazole. Cell cultures were incubated in the presence of cellulase (0.5 μg/mL) plus the indicated concentrations of ancymidol (A) or ketoconazole (B) for 12 hours prior to measuring the in vivo 5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase activity in the cell suspension cultures (squares), or the EAS enzyme activity in extracts prepared from the collected cells (triangles). The in vitro activity of a purified EAS preparation (Back and Chappell, J. Biol. Chem. 270:7375-7381, 1995) was also measured at the indicated inhibitor concentrations as an additional test for non-specific effects of these inhibitors (circles).

FIG. 4A is a schematic diagram of the primary structure of a generalized cytochrome P450 with conserved domains used for the design of PCR primers highlighted (SEQ ID NOS:26-29).

FIG. 4B is a list of the degenerate P450-specific primers (SEQ ID NOS:30-36) that were used in various combinations with vector specific primers in the amplification of cytochrome P450 cDNA fragments.

FIG. 4C is a scanned image of an ethidium bromide-stained agarose gel showing the PCR. products amplified from a directional cDNA library prepared with mRNA isolated from elicitor-treated cells using the degenerate primer GRRXCP(A/G)-for (SEQ ID NO:35) and the T7 vector-specific primer (SEQ ID NO:37). The T3 vector-specific primer is also shown (SEQ ID NO:38).

FIG. 5 is a series of Northern blots showing the induction time course for CYP71D, CYP73A, CYP82E, CYP92A, and EAS transcript accumulation in elicitor treated cells. Total RNA was extracted from tobacco suspension cells incubated with the cellulase elicitor for the indicated durations, size fractionated by agarose gel electrophoresis under denaturing conditions, and transferred to a nylon membrane before probing with the respective full-length cDNAs. The uniformity of sample loading was verified by ethidium bromide staining of ribosomal RNA (Loading control).

FIG. 6 is a series of graphs showing carbon monoxide (CO) difference spectra of the microsomal fraction isolated from yeast expressing the CYP92A5 (A) and CYP71D20 (B) cDNAs. Expression of the respective plasmid constructs engineered into the yeast (WAT11) cells was induced by a galactose treatment, followed by isolation of microsomal preparations. The difference adsorption spectra of microsomes incubated in the presence (solid lines) and absence (broken lines) of carbon monoxide was determined.

FIG. 7 is a series of gas chromatograms of the reaction products formed upon incubation of microsomes isolated from WAT11 yeast cells containing the CYP71D20 expression construct (A and C) or vector control DNA (B and D) with sesquiterpene substrates. Microsomes isolated from the indicated yeast lines were incubated with 5-epi-aristolochene (A and B) or 1-deoxycapsidiol (C and D) in the presence (solid lines) or absence (dashed lines) of NADPH. The identities of 5-epi-aristolochene, 1-deoxycapsidiol, and capsidiol were verified by mass spectrometry.

FIG. 8 is a sequence comparison of the amino acid sequence of Nicotiana tabacum 5-epi-aristolochene (sesquiterpene) hydroxylase NtCYP71D20 (SEQ ID NO:1) with other plant terpene hydroxylases (SEQ ID NOS:39-43). NrCYP71A5v1 (GenBank accession number CAA70575) catalyzes the mono-hydroxylation of nerol and geraniol, linear monoterpenes, while PaCYP71A1 (A35867) catalyzes the epoxidation of these substrates (Hallahan et al., Biochim. Biophys. Acta. 1201:94-100, 1994). MsCYP71D18 (AAD44150) and MpCYP71D13 (AAD44151) catalyze the mono-hydroxylation at C6 and C3 of limonene, a cyclic monoterpene, respectively (Lupien et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 368:181-192, 1999). AtCYP701A3 (AAC39505) encodes for kaurene oxidase, which catalyzes a 3-step reaction including a hydroxylation followed by oxidation of a diterpene (Helliwell et al., Plant Physiol. 119:507-510, 1999). Shown are sequences from Mentha piperita (MpCYP71D13; SEQ ID NO:39), Mentha spicata (MsCYP71D18; SEQ ID NO:40), Nepeta racemosa (NrCYP71A5vb 1; SEQ ID NO:41), Nicotiana tabacum (NtCYP71D20; SEQ ID NO:1), Persea americana (PaCYP71A1; SEQ ID NO:42), and Arabidopsis thaliana (CYP701A3; SEQ ID NO:43). Conserved residues are shaded.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Capsidiol is a bicyclic, dihydroxylated sesquiterpene produced by several Solanaceous species in response to a variety of environmental stimuli. It is the primary antimicrobial compound produced by Nicotiana tabacum in response to fungal elicitation, and it is formed via the isoprenoid pathway from 5-epi-aristolochene. Much of the biosynthetic pathway for the formation of this compound has been elucidated, except for the enzyme(s) responsible for the conversion of the allylic sesquiterpene 5-epi-aristolochene to its dihydroxylated form, capsidiol.

Accordingly, an in vivo assay for 5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase-activity was developed and used to demonstrate a dose dependent inhibition of activity by ancymidol and ketoconazole, two well-characterized inhibitors of cytochrome P450 enzymes. Using degenerate oligonucleotide primers designed to the well-conserved domains found within most P450 enzymes, including the heme binding domain, cDNA fragments representing four distinct P450 families (CYP71, CYP73, CYP82, and CYP92) were amplified from a cDNA library prepared against mRNA from elicitor-treated cells using PCR. The PCR fragments were subsequently used to isolate full-length cDNAs (CYP71D20 (SEQ ID NO: 2) and D21 (SEQ ID NO: 4), CYP73A27 (SEQ ID NO: 6) and A28 (SEQ ID NO: 8), CYP82E1 (SEQ ID NO: 10), and CYP92A5 (SEQ ID NO: 12)), and these in turn were used to demonstrate that the corresponding mRNAs were all induced in elicitor-treated cells, albeit with different induction patterns.

There now follows a description of the cloning of several P450s from Nicotiana tabacum. These examples are provided for the purpose of illustrating the invention, and are not to be considered as limiting.

Inhibition of the 5-epi-aristolochene to Capsidiol Conversion by P450 Antagonists

Using an indirect assay, a detailed induction time course of 5EAH activity in elicitor-induced cell cultures was determined relative to that of EAS activity (FIG. 2), the well-characterized sesquiterpene cyclase activity that catalyzes the formation of 5-epi-aristolochene from FPP (FIG. 1). Using assays for EAS and 5EAH, EAS activity is not detectable in control cell cultures, but is induced significantly within 3 hours and reaches its maximal level within 15 to 18 hours of elicitor-treatment. Similar to the EAS enzyme activity, 5EAH activity was negligible in control cell cultures. Nonetheless, after an apparent lag phase of 8 hours, a rapid induction of hydroxylase activity was observed 10 to 15 hours post elicitor addition to the cell cultures, reaching a maximum by 18 hours followed by a rather gradual decline of 10 to 20% over the next 8 hours.

Tobacco cell suspension cultures treated with cellulase plus varying concentrations of ancymidol or ketoconazole were pre-incubated for 12 hours before measuring the cells' ability to convert exogenous supplied [³H] labeled 5-epi-aristolochene to radiolabeled capsidiol during a subsequent 3 hour incubation period (FIG. 3). Apparent activity of 5EAH was inhibited in a dose-dependent manner with approximately 50% inhibition by either 25 μM ancymidol or ketoconazole, and more than 80% by 75 μM ancymidol and 95% by 100 μM ketoconazole (FIGS. 3A and B). Importantly, neither the in vitro activity of recombinant EAS nor the induction of EAS in the elicitor-treated cell cultures was significantly affected by ancymidol at concentrations as high as 100 μM (FIG. 3A). Ketoconazole also does not appear to affect the in vitro activity of EAS. However, the inducibility of cyclase activity in elicitor-treated cell extracts was inhibited by ketoconazole at concentrations above 50 μM (FIG. 3B). Therefore, the specificity of ketoconazole as an inhibitor of P450 type reactions should be assessed at or below a concentration of 50 μM under these experimental conditions.

Isolation of Elicitor-inducible Cytochrome P450 cDNAs

A two-step approach for the isolation of candidate P450 cDNAs was followed. A PCR strategy was first employed using a directional cDNA library prepared against mRNA isolated from elicitor-induced cells as the template and degenerate PCR primers (FIG. 4). Sequence alignments of cytochrome P450s from multiple families across kingdoms were used to identify conserved regions to which a series of degenerate primers were prepared (FIGS. 4A and B). In cloning experiments, 450 to 550 bp products were expected from reactions utilizing the primer prepared to the heme-binding domain (GRRXCP(A/G)) (SEQ ID NOS:27 and 28) and the T7 vector primer (FIG. 4C). The mixtures of reaction products were shotgun cloned, and approximately 100 of the cloned PCR fragments were sequenced. About half of the sequenced DNAs contained signature sequences typical of P450 enzymes as revealed by BlastX database searches, and these corresponded to typical plant P450 family members of the CYP71, CYP73, CYP92, and CYP82 classes. Each of these PCR fragments was isolated multiple times in separate experiments. In addition, we isolated fall-length cDNAs for these P450 family members. Table 1 compares the similarity and identity of the fill-length cDNAs of P450 family members with those of their nearest family member in the GenBank database. In addition, FIG. 8 shows an amino acid alignment of several terpene cytochrome P450s. Alignments were performed using the algorithm of the MACVECTOR software suite.

TABLE 1 Full-length cDNAs cloned from an elicited cDNA library Cytochrome P450 Nearest relative/ cDNA clone accession number % identity % similarity CYP71D20 CYP71D7 (S. chacoense) 76.5 88.8 Gen EMBL U48435 CYP71D21 CYP71D7 (S. chacoense) 76.3 88.8 Gen EMBL U48435 CYP73A27 CYP73A15 (P. vulgaris) 79.4 92.6 Gen EMBL Y09447 CYP73A28 CYP73A15 (P. vulgaris) 79.2 92.4 Gen EMBL Y09447 CYP82E1 CYP82E1 (N. tabacum) 100.0 100.0 Gen EMBL AB015762 CYP92A5 CYP92A3 (N. tabacum) 95.5 98.6 Gen EMBL X96784

The cloned fragments were used in a second step to isolate full-length clones from the cDNA library. Screening the cDNA library by hybridization with the CYP71 and CYP73 gene fragments yielded four full-length cDNAs, two CYP71Ds and two CYP73As. The former clones were designated CYP71D20 and CYP71D21, and the latter were designated CYP73A27 and CYP73A28. The other two cDNA fragments corresponded to tobacco cDNAs already found in the GenBank database, CYP82E1 and CYP92A3. These two cDNAs were cloned using specific primers designed with the help of the available sequence information to amplify the full-length cDNA

Induction of Cytochrome P450 mRNAs in Elicitor-treated Cells

To correlate a biochemical role for P450s in sesquiterpene metabolism, RNA blot analyses were used to determine the steady-state levels of the mRNAs coding for all four of the cytochrome P450 clones and EAS in control and elicitor-treated cells (FIG. 5). The mRNAs for all four of the P450s were rapidly and transiently induced with slightly different time courses relative to one another and to the EAS mRNA. CYP73A27 mRNA, for instance, displayed an induction pattern similar to that of EAS with the maximum mRNA level occurring 9 to 12 hours after elicitation. While the EAS mRNA remained high throughout the duration of the experiment, the CYP73A27 mRNA was negligible in cells 24 hours after elicitor-treatment. In contrast, the CYP71D mRNA was more rapidly induced than the EAS mRNA, reached its maximum 6 to 9 hours after elicitation, and was declining by 12 hours when the EAS mRNA level was still very high.

Functional Identification of CYP71D20 as 5-epi-aristolochene Hydroxylase

To ascribe functional identity to the various P450 cDNAs, full-length cDNAs for CYP71D20, CYP82E1 and CYP92A5 were inserted into the yeast expression vector pYeDP60 (Urban et al., Biochimie 72:463-472, 1990; Pompon et al., Methods Enzymol. 272:51-64, 1996) and the expression of each in WAT11, a yeast line containing an integrated Arabidopsis thaliana cytochrome reductase gene (Pompon et al., Methods Enzymol. 272:51-64, 1996; Urban et al., J. Biol, Chem. 272:19176-19186, 1997), was determined. Engineering the CYP73A27 cDNA required an extra modification because of an unusually long N-terminus with several hydrophilic residues that may interfere with proper intracellular targeting (Nedelkina et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 39:1079-1090, 1999). This unusual leader sequence therefore was replaced with the membrane anchoring sequence of CYP73A1, a cinnamate 4-hydroxylase previously demonstrated to express well in yeast (Fahrendorf and Dixon, Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 305:509-515, 1993; Pompon et al., Methods Enzymol. 272:51-64, 1996). Expression of all these cDNAs was under the control of the glucose-repressible, galactose-inducible GAL10-CYC1 promoter (Guarente et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 79:7410-7414, 1982), and expression was compared to yeast transformed with the parent pYeDP60 vector (control) alone.

After induction with galactose for approximately 16 hours, control cells and cells containing the various P450 constructs were collected, and microsomes prepared from each were analyzed for general P450 expression by CO-difference spectroscopy (Omura and Sato, J. Biol. Chem. 239:2370-2378, 1964). Microsomes prepared from cells containing the CYP71D20 (FIG. 6A) and CYP92A5 (FIG. 6B) constructs both showed characteristic CO difference spectra with peaks at 450 nm, indicating that the encoded proteins were assembling properly with their heme cofactor. Using the extinction coefficient of 91 mM⁻¹·cm⁻¹ for heme binding proteins (Omura and Sato, J. Biol. Chem. 239:2370-2378, 1964), it was determined that approximately 107 pmol of CYP71D20 and 268 pmol of CYP92A5 were expressed in the yeast cells per milligram of total yeast protein.

Both 5-epi-aristolochene and 1-deoxycapsidiol were metabolized to only one product with the same retention time as capsidiol. Obvious by its absence, no reaction product having a retention time similar to deoxycapsidiol was detectable in the 5-epi-aristolochene incubations (FIG. 7). Co-injection of authentic capsidiol with the respective reaction products resulted in a single GC peak having a 16.2 minute retention time, identical to capsidiol. Mass spectra patterns for the separate reaction products were identical to that for the capsidiol standard (EIMS m/z 236, 221, 203, 185, 175, 163, 157, 133, 121, 107, 93, 79, 67, 55, 43, 41).

The in vivo assay data presented in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the current work indicate that the conversion of 5-epi-aristolochene is catalyzed by at least one inducible cytochrome P450 mediated reaction.

Furthermore, any of the cytochrome p450 polypeptides described herein may include one or more hydroxylase activities which can incorporate hydroxyl groups into at least two distant sites on an isoprenoid compound. The addition of these hydroxyl groups may occur, for example, sequentially, by adding a hydroxyl group first to one site and then the other, in either order. Moreover, such hydroxylases may be mutated to limit their ability to hydroxylate a substrate at only one site, or, alternatively, to provide stereochemical specificity to their hydroxylating activity.

The above-described experiments were performed using the following materials and methods.

Chemicals

Standard laboratory reagents were purchased from Becton Dickinson Microbiology Systems (Sparks, Md.), FisherBiotech (Fair Lawn, N.J.) and Sigma Chemical Company (St. Louis, Mo.).

Biological Materials and Induction Treatments

Nicotiana tabacum cv. KY14 plants and cell suspension cultures were used. Cell suspension cultures were maintained in modified Murashige-Skoog (Vögeli and Chappell, Plant Physiol. 88:1291-1296, 1988). Cultures in their rapid phase of growth (3 days old) were used for all experiments. At the indicated times, cells were collected and separated from media by vacuum filtration and stored at −80° C.

Induction treatments were performed by the addition of the fungal elicitors, cellulase (Trichoderma viride, Type RS, Onozuka) or paraciticein (O'Donohue et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 27:577-586, 1995) at the indicated concentrations. Paraciticein was purified from E. coli cells overexpressing a recombinant paraciticein protein containing a carboxy-terminal histidine purification tag.

In Vivo 5-epi-aristolochene Hydroxylase Assay and Inhibition Studies

5-epi-aristolochene hydroxylase-activity was measured as the incorporation of [³H]-5-epi-aristolochene into extracellular capsidiol by intact cells. [³H]-5-epi-aristolochene was produced by incubating an excess of [1-³H] farnesyl diphosphate (1 μM, 20.5 Ci/mmol) with recombinant 5-epi-aristolochene synthase (Back et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 315:527-532, 1994; Rising et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122:1861-1866, 2000). The hexane extractable radioactivity from reactions was treated with a small amount of silica to remove any farnesol or residual FPP before quantifying the yield of radioactive 5-epi-aristolochene by liquid scintillation counting. The hexane solvent was removed under a gentle stream of N₂ gas, and the dried residue was re-dissolved in acetone. Control and elicitor-treated cells were then incubated with [³H]-5-epi-aristolochene (approximately 100,000 dpm at 2.5 μM) for 3 hour periods at various points during an induction time course before collecting the cell and media samples. Detection and quantification of capsidiol in the extracellular culture media was performed as reported previously (Chappell et al., Phytochemistry 26:2259-2260, 1987), and the amount of radioactivity incorporated into capsidiol was determined. For these determinations, samples were separated by TLC, and the zones corresponding to capsidiol were scraped from the plate for scintillation counting.

Inhibition studies were performed by the addition of the P450 inhibitors ancymidol (Coolbaugh et al., Plant Physiol. 62:571-576, 1978; Hoshino et al., Phytochemistry 38:609-613, 1995) and ketoconazole (Hoshino et al., Phytochemistry 38:609-613, 1995; Rademacher, Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biol. 51:501-531, 2000) directly to the cell cultures or enzyme assay mix. Cell cultures were incubated in the presence of cellulase (0.5 μg/ml) and indicated concentrations of ancymidol or ketoconazole for 12 hours prior to the addition of [³H]-5-epi-aristolochene. After a further 3 hour incubation period, the cells and media were collected. The amount of radioactivity incorporated into extracellular capsidiol was determined as described above. To evaluate secondary effects of these inhibitors, the level of inducible sesquiterpene cyclase activity in the collected cells was determined according to (Vögeli et al., Plant Physiol. 93:182-187, 1990), as well as in vitro assays with purified recombinant EAS (Back et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 315:527-532, 1994) incubated with the indicated concentrations of ancymidol and ketoconazole.

All experiments were replicated in several independent trials. While the absolute values presented may have varied between experiments by as much as 50%, the trends and time courses were consistent throughout.

Construction of an Elicitor-induced cDNA Library

Cell cultures were incubated with fungal elicitor (0.5 μg cellulase/ml) for 6 hours before collecting the cells by filtration. The cells were kept frozen at −80° C. until total RNA was extracted from them using Trizol (Life Technologies, Rockville, Md.) according to the manufacturer's instructions. Poly (A)⁺RNA was purified by two rounds of oligo (dT) cellulose column chromatography (Life Technologies, Rockville, Md.). cDNA synthesis and library construction were subsequently carried out using the UNI-ZAP XR library kit (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.), according to manufacturer's instructions.

PCR Cloning Strategy

Cytochrome P450 cDNA fragments were amplified from the elicitor-induced cDNA library using various combinations of degenerate forward and reverse primers with the vector-specific T3 and T7 primers. The template DNA was prepared from a 500 μl aliquot of the elicitor-induced cDNA library (3×10⁶ pfu/μl) by heat denaturation at 70° C. for 10 minutes, followed by phenol/chloroform extraction, ethanol precipitation and re-suspension in 500 μl of sterile, deionized water. Amplification reactions were performed in 50 μl volumes containing 50 mM KCl; 10 mM Tris-HCl, pH 8.8; 1.5 mM MgCl₂; 200 μM of each dNTP; 2 μl template DNA; 20 pmol each of forward and reverse primer; and 1 unit Taq Polymerase (Life Technologies, Rockville, Md.). Reactions were preheated at 94° C. for 2 minutes, followed by thirty-five cycles of denaturing at 94° C. for 1 minute, annealing at 50° C. for 1 minute 30 seconds, and polymerization at 72° C. for 2 minutes. The reactions were completed by a 10-minute extension at 72° C. Aliquots of the reaction products were examined for DNA products by agarose gel fractionation, and ligated directly into the pGEM-T Easy vector (Promega, Madison, Wis.). Resulting recombinant plasmids containing insert DNAs within the expected size range were sequenced using T7 and Sp6 primers.

DNA Sequencing

All the DNA sequencing reactions were performed using the BIGDYE™ Terminator Cycle sequencing kit (Perkin-Elmer, Wellesley, Mass.) with the sequences being read on an automated ABI Prism 310 Genetic Analyzer (Applied Biosystems, Foster City, Calif.). Computer assessment of the DNA sequence information was performed using the MACVECTOR (Oxford Molecular, Madison, Wis.) software package.

cDNA Library Screening

The cDNA library was screened with digoxigenin labeled probes. A 258 bp DNA fragment amplified from the pGEM-deg6.4 clone using gene-specific forward (5′-GGCGGAGAATTTGTCCTGGAATGTCATTTGGTTTAG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 13)) and reverse (5′-GTACAATAGTGAGGTTGACAATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 14)) primers; and a 374 bp DNA fragment amplified from the pBKS-CYPB3.843 clone with specific forward (5′-GGTGGTTGTGAATGCATG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 15)) and reverse (5′-TTATGCAGCAATAGGCTTGAAGACA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 16)) primers, were used to screen for CYP71Ds. The probes were labeled with digoxigenin-11-dUTP using the PCR DIG Labeling Mix (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Indianapolis, Ind.), hybridized to plaque lifts of the cDNA library plated at approximately 10,000 PFUs per 150 mm plate, and was hybridization detected with the DIG detection system according to the manufacturer's instructions (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Indianapolis, Ind.). Plaques exhibiting strong hybridization were plaque purified, auto-subcloned to their plasmid forms according to the manufacturer's recommendations (Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.), and then subjected to DNA sequencing as described above.

RNA Analysis

RNA gel blot analysis was carried out using 10 μg aliquots of total RNA. RNA samples were heat-denatured at 70° C. for 15 minutes in sample buffer (1× MOPS, 50% formamide, 16% formaldehyde, 30% glycerol, and 3% ethidium bromide), and size fractionated on a 1.2% agarose gel containing 1× MOPS and 18.1% formaldehyde. Uniformity of sample loading was determined by visual inspection of the gel for rRNA bands. The RNAs were then transferred to a Zeta Probe nylon membrane (Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) and hybridized according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Full-length cDNAs probes were labeled with [³²P]-dCTP (PRIME-IT Kit, Stratagene, La Jolla, Calif.) prior to hybridization. After hybridization, the membranes were washed in 2×SSC/0.1% SDS once at room temperature followed by sequential washes in 0.2×SSC/0.1% SDS at 42° C. and 65° C. Hybridization was detected with a Phosphoimager (Molecular Dynamics, model 445 SI).

Construction of Yeast Expression Vectors.

The coding regions of the P450 cDNAs were cloned into the pYeDP60 expression vector (Urban et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:19176-19186, 1990; Pompon et al., Methods Enzymol. 272:51-64, 1996). Appropriate BamHI, EcoRi, and SstI restriction sites (underlined) were introduced via PCR primers containing these sequences either upstream of the translation start site (ATG) or downstream of the stop codon (TAA or TGA). The primers used to amplify the CYP71D20 cDNA were 5′-GGGGGATCCATGCAATTCTTCAGCTTGGTTTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 17) and 5′-GGGGAATTCTTACTCTCGAGAAGGTTGATAAGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 18); for the CYP82E1 cDNA 5′-CCCGGATCCATGTATCATCTTCTTTCTCCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 19) and 5′-GGGGAATTCTCAATATTGATAAAGCGTAGGAGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 20); and for the CYP92A3 cDNA 5′-CCCGGATCCATGCAATCCTTCAGCTTGGTTTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 21) and 5′-GGGGAGCTCTCACTCGCAAGAAGATTGATAAGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 22). Two long, overlapping (italicized) primers 5′-GCCATTATCGGCGCAATACTAATCTCCAAACTCCGCGGTAAAAAATTCAAGCTCCCAC CTGGTCCAACAGCAGTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 23) and 5′-GGGGGATCCATGGACCTCCTCCTCATAGAAAAAACCCTCGTCGCCTTATTCGCCGCC ATTATCGGCGCAATACTA-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 24) coding for the N-terminal sequence of CYP73A1 (GenEMBL Z 17369) up to the hinge region were used for the modification of the membrane anchoring segment of CYP73A27 to avoid possible problems with intracellular targeting due to the unusual N-terminus (Nedelkina et al., 1999); the reverse primer used for both amplifications was 5′-GGGGAGCTCTTATGCAGCAATAGGCTTGAAGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 25). CYP71D20 and CYP73A27 were amplified using full-length cDNA templates, whereas CYP82E1 and CYP92A5 were amplified directly from the cDNA library template. Amplifications were performed in 50 μl reactions containing 1× Pfx amplification buffer; 1 mM MgSO₄; 300 μM of each dNTP; 10 ng template DNA; 20 pmol each of forward and reverse primer; and 1.25 units PLATINUM® Pfx Polymerase (Life Technologies, Rockville, Md.). Reactions were preheated at 94° C. for 2 minutes, followed by thirty-five cycles of denaturing at 94° C. for 15 seconds, annealing at 55° C. for 30 seconds, and elongating at 68° for 1.5 minutes. PCR products were ligated into the pGEM-T EASY vector (Promega, Madison, Wis.) and subcloned into the pYeDP60 vector. The resulting constructs were validated by a combination of PCR and DNA sequencing.

Yeast Expression Studies

Verified pYeDP60-P450 cDNA constructs were introduced into the yeast WAT11 line, a derivative of the W303-1B strain (MAT a; ade 2-1; his 3-11; leu 2-3, -112; ura 3-1; can^(R); cyr⁺), provided by Dr. P. Urban (Centre de Gënëtique Molëculaire, CNRS, Gif-sur-Yvette, France). The endogenous NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (CPR1) locus has been replaced with ATR1, a NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase from Arabidopsis thaliana (Pompon et al., Methods Enzymol. 272:51-64, 1996; Urban et al., J. Biol. Chem. 272:19176-19186, 1997), in the WAT11 line. Yeast was grown overnight in a 30° C. shaker in YPAD (1 g/l yeast extract; 1 g/l peptone; 20 g/l glucose; 200 mg/l adenine) liquid media. Cultures were harvested at an A₆₀₀ between 0.5 and 1.5. Cells were collected by centrifugation at 2,500×g for 5 minutes at 4° C., and resuspended in ice-cold, sterile dH₂O. Cells were pelleted again as above and resuspended in 1 M sorbitol. Forty μl of yeast suspension was mixed with 0.5 to 1 μg plasmid DNA (in <5 μl dH₂O) in a pre-chilled 0.5 ml tube, and transferred to a chilled cuvette with a 0.2 cm electrode gap. One pulse at 1.5 kV, 25 μF, and 200 Ohms was applied by an Eppendorf Electroporator (model 2510). A mixture of 500 μl of YPAD/1 M sorbitol was immediately added to the electroporated cells. Cells were allowed to recover at 30° C. for 1 hour, then spread onto SGI plates (1 g/l bactocasamino acids; 7 g/l yeast nitrogen base; 20 g/l glucose; 20 mg/l tryptophan; and 20 g/l agar). Transformed colonies appeared after 3 to 6 days of incubation at 30° C. Recombinant plasmids were confirmed by PCR assays performed directly on randomly selected yeast colonies.

For expression studies, one colony was added to SGI media (1 g/l bactocasamino acids; 7 g/l yeast nitrogen base; 20 g/l glucose; and 20 mg/l tryptophan) and grown at 30° C. for approximately 24 hours. An aliquot of this culture was diluted 1:50 into 250 ml of YPGE (10 g/l bactopeptone; 10 g/l yeast extract; 5 g/l glucose; and 3% ethanol by volume) and the cells were grown until all glucose was consumed. The absence of glucose was determined by placing a 200 μl aliquot of culture into a 1.5 ml tube, inserting a DIASTIX urinalysis reagent strip (Bayer, Elkhart, Ind.) for 30 seconds, and observing colorimetric changes indicating glucose levels. Induction was initiated by the addition of 5 grams of galactose (final concentration of 2%). The cultures were maintained at 30° C. for an additional 16 hours before collecting the cells by centrifugation at 7,000×g for 10 minutes. The pelleted cells were washed with 100 ml of TES buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl pH, 7.5; 1 mM EDTA; 0.6 M sorbitol). The cells were centrifuged as above, resuspended in 100 ml of TES-M (TES supplemented with 10 mM 2-mercaptoethanol), and allowed to incubate at room temperature for 10 minutes. The yeast cells were centrifuged again at 7,000×g for 10 minutes, and the pellet was resuspended in 2.5 ml extraction buffer (1% bovine serum albumin, fraction V; 2 mM 2-mercaptoethanol; 1 mM phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride, all dissolved in TES). Glass beads (0.5 mm in diameter, Biospec Products, Inc., Bartlesville, Okla.) were added until skimming the surface of the cell suspension. Cell walls were disrupted manually by hand shaking in a cold room for 10 min at 30 second intervals separated by 30 second intervals on ice. Cell extracts were transferred to a 50 ml centrifuge tube, the glass beads were washed three times with 5 ml of extraction buffer, and the washes were pooled with the original cell extracts. Microsomes were prepared by differential centrifugation at 10,000 g for 10 minutes at 4° C. to remove cellular debris, followed by centrifugation at 100,000×g for 70 minutes at 4° C., and microsomal pellets were resuspended in 1.5 ml TEG-M buffer (50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 1 mM EDTA; 20% glycerol; and 1.5 mM 2-mercaptoethanol) and stored frozen at −80° C. until further assayed.

CO Difference Spectra

Fe²⁺.CO vs. Fe²⁺ difference spectroscopy (Omura and Sato, J. Biol. Chem. 239:2370-2373, 1964) was performed using 0.4 ml of microsomes suspended in 1.6 ml of 50 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5; 1 mM EDTA; and 20% glycero. A small amount of the reducing agent, sodium dithionite, was added, and the mixture was distributed between two cuvettes. A baseline was recorded between 400 and 500 nm on a Perkin Elmer Lambda 18 UV/visible spectrophotometer. CO was then bubbled into the sample cuvette for 1 minute, and the difference spectrum recorded again. The amount of functional P450 was estimated based on an absorbance coefficient of 91 mM⁻¹.cm⁻¹.

5-epi-aristolochene-1, 3-hydroxylase Assays

5-epi-aristolochene-1, 3-hydroxylase assays were performed in 0.5 ml polyethylene tubes in 100 μl volumes. 5-epi-aristolochene or 1-deoxycapsidiol dissolved in hexane was added to the tube, and the organic solvent was removed by incubation of the open tube at 30° C. 5-epi-aristolochene and 1-deoxycapsidiol were resuspended in 2 μl dimethyl sulfoxide before adding the reaction mixture. Reactions were carried out in 100 mM Tris-HCl, pH 7.5, to which microsomal protein was added to a final concentration of 1 mg/ml. Reactions were initiated by the addition of 2 mM NADPH. The final concentration of 5-epi-aristolochene and 1-deoxycapsidiol in these assays varied from 20 to 50 μM. After incubations for variable lengths of time at 30° C., the reactions were extracted with two volumes of ethyl acetate. The organic extracts were concentrated and evaluated by GC and GC-MS along with standards of 5-epi-aristolochene (Whitehead et al., Phytochemistry 28:775-779, 1989; Rising et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122:1861-1866, 2000), 1-deoxycapsidiol (Whitehead et al., Phytochemistry 29:479-182, 1990), and capsidiol (Whitehead et al., Phytochemistry 26:1367-1369, 1987; Milat et al., Phytochemistry 30:2171-2173, 1991). GC analysis was routinely performed with an HP5890 GC equipped with a Hewlett-Packard HP-5 capillary column (30 m×0.25 mm, 0.25 μm phase thickness) and FID as described previously (Rising et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 122:1861-1866, 2000). GC-MS analysis was performed at the University of Kentucky Mass Spectrometry Facility using a Varian 3400 gas chromatograph and a Finnigan INCOS 50 quadrupole mass selective detector. The GC was equipped with a J&W DB-5 ms capillary column (15 m×0.25 mm, 0.25 μm phase thickness) and run with He as the carrier gas (10 psi.). Splitless injections were done at an injection port temperature of 280° C. The column temperature was maintained at 40° C. for 1 minute and then increased to 280° C. at 10° C. per minute. Following separation by the GC column, samples were introduced directly into the electron impact ionization source. Mass spectra were acquired at 70 eV, scanning from 40-440 Da in 1 second.

Production of Cytochrome P450s

Using the standard molecular techniques described herein, the isolation of additional cytochrome P450 coding sequences is readily accomplished. For example, using all or a portion of the amino acid sequence of any of the disclosed P450s, one may readily design P450-specific oligonucleotide probes, including P450 degenerate oligonucleotide probes (i.e., a mixture of all possible coding sequences for a given amino acid sequence). These oligonucleotides may be based upon the sequence of either DNA strand and any appropriate portion of the P450 nucleotide sequence. General methods for designing and preparing such probes are provided, for example, in Ausubel et al., 2000, Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Wiley Interscience, New York, and Berger and Kimmel, Guide to Molecular Cloning Techniques, 1987, Academic Press, New York. These oligonucleotides are useful for P450 gene isolation, either through their use as probes capable of hybridizing to a P450 complementary sequence, or as primers for various amplification techniques, for example, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cloning strategies.

Hybridization techniques and screening procedures are well known to those skilled in the art and are described, for example, in Ausubel et al. (supra); Berger and Kimmel (supra); Chen et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 324:255, 1995; and Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, New York. If desired, a combination of different oligonucleotide probes may be used for the screening of a recombinant DNA library. The oligonucleotides may be detectably-labeled using methods known in the art and used to probe filter replicas from a recombinant DNA library. Recombinant DNA libraries are prepared according to methods well known in the art, for example, as described in Ausubel et al. (supra), or they may be obtained from commercial sources.

As discussed above, P450 oligonucleotides may also be used as primers in a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification cloning strategy. PCR methods are well known in the art and are described, for example, in PCR Technology, Erlich, ed., Stockton Press, London, 1989; PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications, Innis et al., eds., Academic Press, Inc., New York, 1990; and Ausubel et al. (supra). Primers are optionally designed to allow cloning of the amplified product into a suitable vector, for example, by including appropriate restriction sites at the 5′ and 3′ ends of the amplified fragment (as described herein). If desired, a P450 gene may be isolated using the PCR “RACE” technique, or Rapid Amplification of cDNA Ends (see, e.g., Innis et al. (supra)). By this method, oligonucleotide primers based on a P450 sequence are oriented in the 3′ and 5′ directions and are used to generate overlapping PCR fragments. These overlapping 3′- and 5′-end RACE products are combined to produce an intact full-length cDNA. This method is described in Innis et al. (supra); and Frohman et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:8998, (1988).

Additional methods for identifying sequences encoding P450 s are provided in Maughan et al (Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 341:104-111, 1997) and Clark et al. (Plant Mol. Biol. 33:875-885, 1997).

Useful P450 sequences may be isolated from any appropriate organism. Confirmation of a sequence's relatedness to a P450 polypeptide disclosed herein may be accomplished by a variety of conventional methods, for example, by comparing the sequence with a known p450 sequence found in a database. In addition, the activity of any P450 may be evaluated according to any of the techniques described herein.

P450 Polypeptide Expression

P450 polypeptides may be produced by transformation of a suitable host cell with all or part of a P450 DNA (for example, any one of the P450 cDNAs described herein) in a suitable expression vehicle or with a plasmid construct engineered for increasing the expression of a P450 polypeptide in vivo.

Those skilled in the field of molecular biology will appreciate that any of a wide variety of expression systems may be used to provide the recombinant protein. The precise host cell used is not critical to the invention. The P450 protein may be produced in a prokaryotic host, for example, E. coli TB1, or in a eukaryotic host, for example, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, insect cells, mammalian cells (for example, COS 1 or NIH 3T3 cells), or any of a number of plant cells including, without limitation, algae, tree species, ornamental species, temperate fruit species, tropical fruit species, vegetable species, legume species, monocots, dicots, or in any plant of commercial or agricultural significance. Particular examples of suitable plant hosts include, but are not limited to, Conifers, Petunia, Tomato, Potato, Tobacco, Grape, Arabidopsis, Lettuce, Sunflower, Oilseed rape, Flax, Cotton, Sugarbeet, Celery, Soybean, Alfalfa, Medicago, Lotus, Vigna, Cucumber, Carrot, Eggplant, Cauliflower, Horseradish, Morning Glory, Poplar, Walnut, Apple, Asparagus, Grape, Rice, Maize, Millet, Onion, Barley, Orchard grass, Oat, Rye, Tobacco, and Wheat.

Such cells are available from a wide range of sources including: the American Type Culture Collection (Rockland, Md.); or from any of a number seed companies, for example, W. Atlee Burpee Seed Co. (Warminster, Pa.), Park Seed Co. (Greenwood, S.C.), Johnny Seed Co. (Albion, Me.), or Northrup King Seeds (Harstville, S.C.). Descriptions and sources of useful host cells are also found in Vasil I. K., Cell Culture and Somatic Cell Genetics of Plants, Vol I, II, III Laboratory Procedures and Their Applications Academic Press, New York, 1984; Dixon, R. A., Plant Cell Culture—A Practical Approach, IRL Press, Oxford University, 1985; Green et al., Plant Tissue and Cell Culture, Academic Press, New York, 1987; and Gasser and Fraley, Science 244:1293, (1989).

For prokaryotic expression, DNA encoding a P450 polypeptide is carried on a vector operably linked to control signals capable of effecting expression in the prokaryotic host. If desired, the coding sequence may contain, at its 5′ end, a sequence encoding any of the known signal sequences capable of effecting secretion of the expressed protein into the periplasmic space of the host cell, thereby facilitating recovery of the protein and subsequent purification. Prokaryotes most frequently used are various strains of E. coli; however, other microbial strains may also be used. Plasmid vectors are used which contain replication origins, selectable markers, and control sequences derived from a species compatible with the microbial host. Examples of such vectors are found in Pouwels et al. (supra) or Ausubel et al. (supra). Commonly used prokaryotic control sequences (also referred to as “regulatory elements”) are defined herein to include promoters for transcription initiation, optionally with an operator, along with ribosome binding site sequences. Promoters commonly used to direct protein expression include the beta-lactamase (penicillinase), the lactose (lac), the tryptophan (Trp) (Goeddel et al., Nucl. Acids Res. 8:4057 (1980)), and the tac promoter systems, as well as the lambda-derived P.sub.L promoter and N-gene ribosome binding site (Simatake et al., Nature 292:128 (1981)).

One particular bacterial expression system for P450 production is the E. coli pET expression system (Novagen). According to this expression system, DNA encoding a P450 is inserted into a pET vector in an orientation designed to allow expression. Since the P450 gene is under the control of the T7 regulatory signals, P450 expression is dependent on inducing the expression of T7 RNA polymerase in the host cell. This is typically achieved using host strains which express T7 RNA polymerase in response to IPTG induction. Once produced, recombinant P450 is then isolated according to standard methods known in the art, for example, those described herein.

Another bacterial expression system for P450 production is the pGEX expression system (Pharmacia). This system employs a GST gene fusion system that is designed for high-level expression of a gene or gene fragment as a fusion protein with rapid purification and recovery of the functional gene product. The P450 of interest is fused to the carboxyl terminus of the glutathione S-transferase protein from Schistosoma japonicum and is readily purified from bacterial lysates by affinity chromatography using Glutathione Sepharose 4B. Fusion proteins can be recovered under mild conditions by elution with glutathione. Cleavage of the glutathione S-transferase domain from the fusion protein is facilitated by the presence of recognition sites for site-specific proteases upstream of this domain. For example, proteins expressed in pGEX-2T plasmids may be cleaved with thrombin; those expressed in pGEX-3X may be cleaved with factor Xa.

Other prokaryotic systems useful for expressing eukaryotic P450s are described by Cooper (Mutat. Res. 454:45-52, 2000) and Dong et al. (Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 327:254-259, 1996). In addition, strategies for enhancing the prokaryotic expression of a cytochrome P450 in combination with cytochrome reductase are described in Porter et al. (Drug. Metab. Rev. 31:159-174, 1999).

For eukaryotic expression, the method of transformation or transfection and the choice of vehicle for expression of the P450 will depend on the host system selected. Transformation and transfection methods of numerous organisms, for example, the baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, are described, e.g., in Ausubel et al. (supra); Weissbach and Weissbach, Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, 1989; Gelvin et al., Plant Molecular Biology Manual, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1990; Kindle, K., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 87:1228 (1990); Potrykus, I., Annu. Rev. Plant Physiol. Plant Mol. Biology 42:205 (1991); and BioRad (Hercules, Calif.) Technical Bulletin #1687 (Biolistic Particle Delivery Systems). Expression vehicles may be chosen from those provided, e.g., in Cloning Vectors: A Laboratory Manual (P. H. Pouwels et al., 1985, Supp. 1987); Gasser and Fraley (supra); Clontech Molecular Biology Catalog (Catalog 1992/93 Tools for the Molecular Biologist, Palo Alto, Calif.); and the references cited above.

One preferred eukaryotic expression system is the mouse 3T3 fibroblast host cell transfected with a pMAMneo expression vector (Clontech). pMAMneo provides: an RSV-LTR enhancer linked to a dexamethasone-inducible MMTV-LTR promoter, an SV40 origin of replication which allows replication in mammalian systems, a selectable neomycin gene, and SV40 splicing and polyadenylation sites. DNA encoding a P450 is inserted into the pMAMneo vector in an orientation designed to allow expression. The recombinant P450 is then isolated as described below. Other preferable host cells which may be used in conjunction with the pMAMneo expression vehicle include COS cells and CHO cells (ATCC Accession Nos. CRL 1650 and CCL 61, respectively).

Alternatively, if desired, a P450 is produced by a stably-transfected mammalian cell line. A number of vectors suitable for stable transfection of mammalian cells are available to the public, e.g., see Pouwels et al. (supra); methods for constructing such cell lines are also publicly available, e.g., in Ausubel et al. (supra). In one example, cDNA encoding the P450 is cloned into an expression vector which includes the dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) gene. Integration of the plasmid and, therefore, the P450-encoding gene into the host cell chromosome is selected for by inclusion of 0.01-300 μM methotrexate in the cell culture medium (as described in Ausubel et al., supra). This dominant selection can be accomplished in most cell types. Recombinant protein expression can be increased by DHFR-mediated amplification of the transfected gene. Methods for selecting cell lines bearing gene amplifications are described in Ausubel et al. (supra); such methods generally involve extended culture in medium containing gradually increasing levels of methotrexate. DHFR-containing expression vectors commonly used for this purpose include pCVSEII-DHrF and pAdD26SV(A) (described in Ausubel et al., supra). Any of the host cells described above or, preferably, a DHFR-deficient CHO cell line (for example, CHO DHFR cells, ATCC Accession Number CRL 9096) are among the host cells preferred for DHFR selection of a stably-transfected cell line or DHFR-mediated gene amplification.

A cytochrome P450 may also be produced in insect cells, such cells include, without limitation, Spodoptera frugiperda (Sf)-9, Sf-21, or Drosophila melanogaster Schneider (SL-2) cells. For P450 production, insect cells are typically infected with a baculovirus, for example, Autographa californica Multiple Nuclear Polyhedrosis Virus (AcMNPV) containing an expression cassette for such a protein, e.g., cytochrome P450, at a multiplicity of infection of 1 to 10. The infected cells are generally cultured in a standard insect cell culture medium for 24 to 48 hours prior to recovering the protein using standard molecular biology techniques. If desired, a P450 polypeptide may also be produced in insect cells directly transfected with a DNA construct containing an expression cassette encoding the P450.

Furthermore, any of the cytochrome P450s described herein may be produced in yeast, for example, Pichia pastoris. In order to produce the P450, yeast cells are transformed with an expression cassette containing, for example, a promoter such as the AOX1 or phosphoglycerate kinase gene promoter, the P450 gene to be expressed, and a terminator. Such an expression cassette may contain an origin of replication or it may be integrated into the yeast genomic DNA. The expression cassette is generally introduced by lithium acetate transformation or by the use of spheroplasts. In order to select for successfully transformed cells, the yeast are plated, for example, on minimal media which only allows yeast carrying the introduced expression cassette to grow.

In addition, expression of recombinant proteins in yeast using a Hansenula polymorpha expression system is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,741,674 and 5,672,487.

A P450 may also be produced by a stably-transfected plant cell line or by a transgenic plant. Such genetically-engineered plants are useful for a variety of industrial and agricultural applications as discussed below. Importantly, this invention is applicable to gymnosperms and angiosperms, and will be readily applicable to any new or improved transformation or regeneration method.

A number of vectors suitable for stable transfection of plant cells or for the establishment of transgenic plants are available to the public; such vectors are described in Pouwels et al. (supra), Weissbach and Weissbach (supra), and Gelvin et al. (supra). Methods for constructing such cell lines are described in, e.g., Weissbach and Weissbach (supra), and Gelvin et al. (supra). Typically, plant expression vectors include (1) a cloned P450 gene under the transcriptional control of 5′ and 3′ regulatory sequences and (2) a dominant selectable marker. Such plant expression vectors may also contain, if desired, a promoter regulatory region (for example, one conferring inducible or constitutive expression, or environmentally- or developmentally-regulated, or pathogen- or wound-inducible, or cell- or tissue-specific expression), a transcription initiation start site, a ribosome binding site, an RNA processing signal, a transcription termination site, and/or a polyadenylation signal.

The P450 DNA sequence of the invention may, if desired, be combined with other DNA sequences in a variety of ways. The P450 DNA sequence of the invention may be employed with all or part of the gene sequences normally associated with a P450. In its component parts, a DNA sequence encoding a P450 is combined in a DNA construct having a transcription initiation control region capable of promoting transcription and translation in a host cell.

In general, the constructs will involve regulatory regions functional in plants which provide for production of a P450 as discussed herein. The open reading frame coding for the P450, or a functional fragment thereof, will be joined at its 5′ end to a transcription initiation regulatory region such as the sequence naturally found in the 5′ upstream region of a P450 structural gene, for example, a CYP71D20 (SEQ ID NO:2) or CYP71D21 (SEQ ID NO:4) gene. Numerous other transcription initiation regions are available which provide for constitutive or inducible regulation.

For applications when developmental, cell, tissue, hormonal, environmental, or pathogen-inducible expression are desired, appropriate 5′ upstream non-coding regions are obtained from other genes; for example, from genes regulated during seed development, embryo development, leaf development, or in response to a pathogen.

Regulatory transcript termination regions may also be provided in DNA constructs of this invention as well. Transcript termination regions may be provided by the DNA sequence encoding a P450 or any convenient transcription termination region derived from a different gene source. The transcript termination region will contain preferably at least 1-3 kb of sequence 3′ to the structural gene from which the termination region is derived.

An example of a useful plant promoter according to the invention is a caulimovirus promoter, such as, a cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) promoter. These promoters confer high levels of expression in most plant tissues, and the activity of these promoters is not dependent on virally encoded proteins. CaMV is a source for both the 35S and 19S promoters. In most tissues of transgenic plants, the CaMV 35S promoter is a strong promoter (see, e.g., Odell et al., Nature 313:810 (1985)). The CaMV promoter is also highly active in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell 2:591 (1990); Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet. 220:389, (1990)). Moreover, activity of this promoter can be further increased (i.e., between 2-10 fold) by duplication of the CaMV 35S promoter (see e.g., Kay et al., Science 236:1299 (1987); Ow et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:4870 (1987); and Fang et al., Plant Cell 1:141 (1989)). Other useful plant promoters include, without limitation, the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol. 88:547 (1988)) and the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell 1:977 (1989)).

For certain applications, it may be desirable to produce the P450 gene product in an appropriate tissue, at an appropriate level, or at an appropriate developmental time. For this purpose, there is an assortment of gene promoters, each with its own distinct characteristics embodied in its regulatory sequences, which have been shown to be regulated in response to the environment, hormones, and/or developmental cues. These include gene promoters that are responsible for heat-regulated gene expression (see, e.g., Callis et al., Plant Physiol. 88:965 (1988); Takahashi and Komeda, Mol. Gen. Genet. 219:365 (1989); and Takahashi et al., Plant J. 2:751(1992)), light-regulated gene expression (e.g., the pea rbcS-3A described by Kuhlemeier et al. (plant Cell 1:471 (1989); the maize rbcS promoter described by Schaffner and Sheen, (Plant Cell 3:997 (1991); or the chlorophyll a/b-binding protein gene found in pea described by Simpson et al. (EMBO J. 4:2723 (1985)), hormone-regulated gene expression (for example, the abscisic acid (ABA) responsive sequences from the Em gene of wheat described by Marcotte et al. (Plant Cell 1:969 (1989); the ABA-inducible HVA1 and HVA22, and the rd29A promoters described for barley and Arabidopsis by Straub et al. (Plant Cell 6:617 (1994), Shen et al. (Plant Cell 7:295 (1994)), and wound-induced gene expression (for example, of wunI described by Siebertz et al. (Plant Cell 1:961 (1989)), or organ-specific gene expression (for example, of the tuber-specific storage protein gene described by Roshal et al. (EMBO J. 6:1155 (1987); the 23-kDa zein gene from maize described by Schemthaner et al. (EMBO J. 7:1249 (1988); or the French bean beta-phaseolin gene described by Bustos et al., (Plant Cell 1:839 (1989)); and pathogen-inducible gene expression described by Chappell et al. in U.S. Ser. Nos. 08/471,983, 08/443,639, and 08/577,483, hereby incorporated by reference.

Plant expression vectors may also optionally include RNA processing signals, for example, introns, which have been shown to be important for efficient RNA synthesis and accumulation (Callis et al., Genes and Dev. 1:1183 (1987)). The location of the RNA splice sequences can dramatically influence the level of transgene expression in plants. In view of this fact, an intron may be positioned upstream or downstream of a P450-encoding sequence in the transgene to modulate levels of gene expression.

In addition to the aforementioned 5′ regulatory control sequences, the expression vectors may also include regulatory control regions which are generally present in the 3′ regions of plant genes (Thornburg et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 84:744 (1987); An et al., Plant Cell 1:115 (1989)). For example, the 3′ terminator region may be included in the expression vector to increase stability of the mRNA. One such terminator region may be derived from the PI-II terminator region of potato. In addition, other commonly used terminators are derived from the octopine or nopaline synthase signals.

The plant expression vector also typically contains a dominant selectable marker gene used to identify those cells that have become transformed. Useful selectable genes for plant systems include genes encoding antibiotic resistance genes, for example, those encoding resistance to hygromycin, kanamycin, bleomycin, G418, streptomycin, or spectinomycin. Genes required for photosynthesis may also be used as selectable markers in photosynthetic-deficient strains. Alternatively, the green-fluorescent protein from the jellyfish Aequorea victoria may be used as a selectable marker (Sheen et al., Plant J. 8:777, 1995; Chiu et al., Current Biology 6:325 (1996)). Finally, genes encoding herbicide resistance may be used as selectable markers; useful herbicide resistance genes include the bar gene encoding the enzyme phosphinothricin acetyltransferase and conferring resistance to the broad-spectrum herbicide BASTA (Hoechst AG., Frankfurt, Germany).

Efficient use of selectable markers is facilitated by a determination of the susceptibility of a plant cell to a particular selectable agent and a determination of the concentration of this agent which effectively kills most, if not all, of the transformed cells. Some useful concentrations of antibiotics for tobacco transformation include, e.g., 75-100 μg/ml (kanamycin), 20-50 μg/ml (hygromycin), or 5 -10 μg/ml (bleomycin). A useful strategy for selection of transformants for herbicide resistance is described, e.g., by Vasil et al., supra.

It should be readily apparent to one skilled in the art of molecular biology, especially in the field of plant molecular biology, that the level of gene expression is dependent, not only on the combination of promoters, RNA processing signals, and terminator elements, but also on how these elements are used to increase the levels of selectable marker gene expression.

Plant Transformation

Upon construction of the plant expression vector, several standard methods are available for introduction of the vector into a plant host, thereby generating a transgenic plant. These methods include (1) Agrobacterium-mediated transformation (A. tumefaciens or A. rhizogenes) (see, e.g., Lichtenstein and Fuller, In: Genetic Engineering, vol. 6, PWJ Rigby, ed, London, Academic Press, 1987; and Lichtenstein, C. P., and Draper, J., In: DNA Cloning, Vol II, D. M. Glover, ed, Oxford, IRI Press, 1985)), (2) the particle delivery system (see, e.g., Gordon-Kamm et al., Plant Cell 2:603 (1990); or BioRad Technical Bulletin 1687, supra), (3) microinjection protocols (see, e.g., Green et al., supra), (4) polyethylene glycol (PEG) procedures (see, e.g., Draper et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 23:451 (1982); or e.g., Zhang and Wu, Theor. Appl. Genet. 76:835 (1988)), (5) liposome-mediated DNA uptake (see, e.g., Freeman et al., Plant Cell Physiol. 25:1353 (1984)), (6) electroporation protocols (see, e.g., Gelvin et al., supra; Dekeyser et al., supra; Fromm et al., Nature 319:791 (1986); Sheen, Plant Cell 2:1027 (1990); or Jang and Sheen, Plant Cell 6:1665 (1994)), and (7) the vortexing method (see, e.g., Kindle, supra). The method of transformation is not critical to the present invention. Any method which provides for efficient transformation may be employed. As newer methods are available to transform crops or other host cells, they may be directly applied.

The following is an example outlining one particular technique, an Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation. By this technique, the general process for manipulating genes to be transferred into the genome of plant cells is carried out in two phases. First, cloning and DNA modification steps are carried out in E. coli, and the plasmid containing the gene construct of interest is transferred by conjugation or electroporation into Agrobacterium. Second, the resulting Agrobacterium strain is used to transform plant cells. Thus, for the generalized plant expression vector, the plasmid contains an origin of replication that allows it to replicate in Agrobacterium and a high copy number origin of replication functional in E. coli. This permits facile production and testing of transgenes in E. coli prior to transfer to Agrobacterium for subsequent introduction into plants. Resistance genes can be carried on the vector, one for selection in bacteria, for example, streptomycin, and another that will function in plants, for example, a gene encoding kanamycin resistance or herbicide resistance. Also present on the vector are restriction endonuclease sites for the addition of one or more transgenes and directional T-DNA border sequences which, when recognized by the transfer functions of Agrobacterium, delimit the DNA region that will be transferred to the plant.

In another example, plant cells may be transformed by shooting into the cell tungsten microprojectiles on which cloned DNA is precipitated. In the Biolistic Apparatus (Bio-Rad) used for the shooting, a gunpowder charge (22 caliber Power Piston Tool Charge) or an air-driven blast drives a plastic macroprojectile through a gun barrel. An aliquot of a suspension of tungsten particles on which DNA has been precipitated is placed on the front of the plastic macroprojectile. The latter is fired at an acrylic stopping plate that has a hole through it that is too small for the macroprojectile to pass through. As a result, the plastic macroprojectile smashes against the stopping plate, and the tungsten microprojectiles continue toward their target through the hole in the plate. For the present invention, the target can be any plant cell, tissue, seed, or embryo. The DNA introduced into the cell on the microprojectiles becomes integrated into either the nucleus or the chloroplast.

In general, transfer and expression of transgenes in plant cells are now routine practices to those skilled in the art, and have become major tools to carry out gene expression studies in plants and to produce improved plant varieties of agricultural or commercial interest.

Transgenic Plant Regeneration

Plants cells transformed with plant expression vectors can be regenerated, for example, from single cells, callus tissue, or leaf discs according to standard plant tissue culture techniques. It is well known in the art that various cells, tissues, and organs from almost any plant can be successfully cultured to regenerate an entire plant; such techniques are described, e.g., in Vasil supra; Green et al., supra; Weissbach and Weissbach, supra; and Gelvin et al., supra.

In one particular example, a cloned P450, under the control of the EAS4 promoter and the nopaline synthase terminator and carrying a selectable marker (for example, kanamycin resistance), is transformed into Agrobacterium. Transformation of leaf discs (for example, of tobacco leaf discs), with vector-containing Agrobacterium is carried out as described by Horsch et al. (Science 227:1229 (1985)). Putative transformants are selected after a few weeks (for example, 3 to 5 weeks) on plant tissue culture media containing kanamycin (e.g., 100 μg/ml). Kanamycin-resistant shoots are then placed on plant tissue culture media without hormones for root initiation. Kanamycin-resistant plants are then selected for greenhouse growth. If desired, seeds from self-fertilized transgenic plants can then be sowed in soil-less medium and grown in a greenhouse. Kanamycin-resistant progeny are selected by sowing surface sterilized seeds on hormone-free kanamycin-containing media. Analysis for the integration of the transgene is accomplished by standard techniques (see, for example, Ausubel et al., supra; Gelvin et al., supra).

Transgenic plants expressing the selectable marker are then screened for transmission of the transgene DNA by standard immunoblot and DNA detection techniques. Each positive transgenic plant and its transgenic progeny is unique in comparison to other transgenic plants established with the same transgene. Integration of the transgene DNA into the plant genomic DNA is in most cases random, and the site of integration can profoundly affect the levels and the tissue and developmental patterns of transgene expression. Consequently, a number of transgenic lines are usually screened for each transgene to identify and select plants with the most appropriate expression profiles.

Transgenic lines are generally evaluated for levels of transgene expression. Expression at the DNA level is determined initially to identify and quantitate expression-positive plants. Standard techniques for RNA analysis are employed and include PCR amplification assays using oligonucleotide primers designed to amplify only transgene RNA templates and solution hybridization assays using transgene-specific probes (see, e.g., Ausubel et al., supra). The RNA-positive plants are then analyzed for protein expression by Western immunoblot analysis using specific antibodies to the P450 (see, e.g., Ausubel et al., supra). In addition, in situ hybridization and immunocytochemistry according to standard protocols can be done using transgene-specific nucleotide probes and antibodies, respectively, to localize sites of expression within transgenic tissue.

Once the recombinant P450 is expressed in any cell or in a transgenic plant (for example, as described above), it may be isolated, e.g., using affinity chromatography. In one example, an anti-P450 antibody (e.g., produced as described in Ausubel et al., supra, or by any standard technique) may be attached to a column and used to isolate the polypeptide. Lysis and fractionation of P450-producing cells prior to affinity chromatography may be performed by standard methods (see, e.g., Ausubel et al., supra). Once isolated, the recombinant protein can, if desired, be further purified, for example, by high performance liquid chromatography (see, e.g., Fisher, Laboratory Techniques in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, eds., Work and Burdon, Elsevier, 1980).

These general techniques of polypeptide expression and purification can also be used to produce and isolate useful P450 fragments or analogs.

Use

The aforementioned cytochrome P450 polypeptides of the invention are useful in the biosynthesis of hormones, lipids, and secondary metabolites, and may also help plants tolerate potentially harmful exogenous chemicals such as herbicides, pesticides, and pollutants. In addition, such cytochrome P450 polypeptides are useful in the chemical defense of plants against insects, as well as against bacterial, viral, and fungal infection.

Engineering Plant Disease Resistance

Plasmid constructs designed for the expression of a P450 gene product are useful, for example, for activating plant defense pathways that confer anti-pathogenic properties to a transgenic plant, for example, the production of phytoalexins. P450 genes that are isolated from a host plant (e.g., Nicotiana) may be engineered for expression in the same plant, a closely related species, or a distantly related plant species. For example, a P450 gene may be engineered for constitutive low-level expression and then transformed into a Nicotiana host plant. Alternatively, the P450 gene may be engineered for expression in other solanaceous plants, including, but not limited to, potato and tomato. To achieve pathogen resistance, it is important to express a P450 protein at an effective level. Evaluation of the level of pathogen protection conferred to a plant by ectopic expression of the P450 gene is determined according to conventional methods and assays.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

The invention also includes engineering host cells to include novel isoprenoid metabolic pathways useful in the production of new isoprenoid compounds. By introducing genes encoding an isoprenoid synthase (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,774 and WO 00/17327) and a cytochrome P450, an acetyltransferase, a methyl transferase, a fatty acyltransferase, or a combination thereof, various isoprenoid reaction products may be modified, controlled, or manipulated, resulting in enhancement of production of numerous isoprenoid reaction products, for example, the production of novel monoterpenes, diterpenes, and sesquiterpenes. Such compounds are useful as phytoalexins, insecticides, perfumes, and pharmaceuticals such as anti-bacterial and fungal agents.

In one working example, an isoprenoid synthase or a chimeric isoprenoid synthase (as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,824,774 and WO 00/17327) and a P450 gene are introduced into yeast, for example, using any of the procedures described herein. If desired, such cells may also express, either independently or in combination, an acetyltransferase (see, for example, Walker et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 18:583-587, 2000), a methylase transferase (see, for example, Diener et al., Plant Cell 12:853-870, 2000) gene, or a fatty acyltransferase gene, as well as a cytochrome reductase. Cells are then cultured under standard conditions and the production of isoprenoid compounds is assayed according to methods known in the art. Isoprenoid compounds are further purified according to methods well known in the art. Cells expressing novel isoprenoid compounds are taken as useful in the invention.

Such methods provide a unique approach for producing novel isoprenoid starting materials and end products. Either prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells transformed with any of the aforementioned enzymes (or combinations thereof) may be used. Moreover, isoprenoid compounds may be produced in any number of ways known in the art including an in vitro combination of purified enzymes with an appropriate substrate or direct fermentation using a host cell which expresses any combination of the aforementioned enzymes and the appropriate substrates sufficient to drive production of isoprenoid compounds.

The invention is also useful for the production of insect attractants and deterrents, which may either deter insect pests or attract insect predators. In addition, the invention is also useful for generating novel flavorings and perfumes.

OTHER EMBODIMENTS

From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention, and can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions. Thus, other embodiments are also within the claims.

All publications and patents mentioned in this specification are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication or patent was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 

1. A method for producing an isoprenoid compound, said method comprising the steps of: culturing a host cell under conditions suitable for expressing a first recombinant protein comprising an isoprenoid synthase and a second recombinant protein comprising a CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide, wherein said first and second recombinant protein catalyze the formation of an isoprenoid compound not normally produced by said host cell; and recovering said isoprenoid compound, wherein said cytochrome P450 polypeptide is selected from the group consisting of a polypeptide comprising at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:1, and a polypeptide comprising at least 95% identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.
 2. A method for producing an altered isoprenoid compound, said method comprising the step of contacting an isoprenoid compound with an isolated CYP71 family cytoebrome P450 polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide catalyzes the formation of an isoprenoid compound, under conditions allowing for the hydroxylation, oxidation, demethylation, methylation, or any combination thereof of said compound and recovering said altered isoprenoid compound, wherein the isolated CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 3. A method for producing an altered isoprenoid compound, said method comprising the step of contacting an isoprenoid compound with an isolated CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide catalyzes the formation of an isoprenoid compound, under conditions allowing for the hydroxylation, oxidation, demethylation, methylation, or any combination thereof of said compound and recovering said altered isoprenoid compound, wherein the isolated CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 4. A host cell expressing a recombinant isoprenoid synthase and a recombinant CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide, wherein said second recombinant protein has hydroxylase activity, and further wherein said first and second recombinant protein catalyze the formation of an isoprenoid compound not normally produced by said host cell, wherein the recombinant CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence at least 95% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1 or of SEQ ID NO:
 3. 5. A host cell expressing a recombinant isoprenoid synthase and a recombinant CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide, wherein said second recombinant protein has hydroxylase activity, and further wherein said first and second recombinant protein catalyze the formation of an isoprenoid compound not normally produced by said host cell, wherein the recombinant CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide comprises an amino acid sequence that is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 6. A method for producing an isoprenoid compound, said method comprising the steps of: culturing a host cell under conditions suitable for expressing a first recombinant protein comprising an isoprenoid synthase and a second recombinant protein comprising a CYP71 family cytochrome P450 polypeptide, wherein said second recombinant protein has hydroxylase activity, and further wherein said first and second recombinant protein catalyze the formation of an isoprenoid compound not normally produced by said host cell; and recovering said isoprenoid compound, wherein the cytochrome P450 comprises an amino acid sequence that is encoded by a nucleic acid sequence at least 95% identical to the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2 or of SEQ ID NO:
 4. 